Elle Cordova is not new to me, her poetry/prose on Instagram has been a thoughtful source on science and humanity, for a few years now. She is one of what I call “my voices”. But her Youtube channel is new to me. Then again, everyone is reaching out, branching out, finding source in this “breaking away” state of things.
And today, gratitude for finding her voice on “Ship of Fools”. Below are the lyrics (since seeing and hearing are different kinds of retention)
And here’s my moment of reverie. In 1968-69, I was living on Oak St., the Panhandle to Golden Gate Park, and babysitting for Darrell Kerr a literary agent for poets in the vein of Ginsburg. I was a very young and enamored of these older men, who in my naive view, sat around drinking Old English 800’s, philosophizing and putting to words all the serious issues of the times.
One day in conversation, they turned to me and asked point blank “what do you stand for?” I was hesitant with my reply, trying to read the room with the little reasoning life had given me up to that time. I was hesitant, and this was their reply.
You can’t just walk down the middle of the road. ‘cuz if you try, they will shoot at you from both sides. At some point, soon after in time, Darrell and family packed and headed North to Oregon, a place supposedly more sane.
The words and lesson have served me well and stayed with me. And now I gotta head off to create my next protest banner against the three blind mice leading this ship of fools.
Went to see the captain Strangest I could find Laid my proposition down Laid it on the line I won’t slave for beggar’s pay Likewise gold and jewels But I would slave to learn the way To sink your ship of fools Ship of fools On a cruel sea Ship of fools Sail away from me It was later than I thought When I first believed you Now I cannot share your laughter Ship of fools Saw your first ship sink and drown From rockin’ of the boat And all that could not sink or swim Was just left there to float I won’t leave you drifting down But whoa, it makes me wild With 30 years upon my head To have you call me child Ship of fools On a cruel sea Ship of fools Sail away from me It was later than I thought When I first believed you Now I cannot share your laughter Ship of fools The bottles stand as empty As they were filled before Time that was in plenty But from that cup no more Though I could not caution all I still might warn a few Don’t lend your hand to raise no flag Atop no ship of fools Ship of fools On a cruel sea Ship of fools Sail away from me It was later than I thought When I first believed you Now I cannot share your laughter Ship of fools It was later than I thought When I first believed you Now I cannot share your laughter Ship of fools
